Assessment of student achievement of learning goals is an on-going process at Capital University. Individual faculty teaching General Education courses participate in the process by evaluating student achievement in individual courses. Additionally, Capital has initiated a Junior Year achievement program to assess how well we have enable students to attain the expected level of skill and competence in some areas of General Education. We are also monitoring student perceptions of the value and efficacy of the General education program through the use of exit surveys.
I. The Junior Year Assessment
Writing Portfolio:
Students in sample sections of the UC 310 or 311 Humanities courses are asked to submit a portfolio of their academic writing. Students select three samples of their written work from previous or current courses. One of these must be a argumentative research paper incorporating some standard system of documention. Students also write a cover letter explaining why they chose the pieces that they are submitting, and providing a subjective assessment of their own writing skills and the training we have provided. The portfolios also include assessment rubrics of four or five written assignments completed by Capital faculty across the curriculum.
Academic Profile Exam:
Some Humanities students are also asked to take the ETS Academic Profile Exam, an exam which assesses skills in critical thinking, critical reading and quantitative reasoning using content across three broad academic fields: Natural Sciences, Behavioral Sciences and the Humanities.
Results of the Junior Year Assessment are returned to individual students with recommendations for further skills development if necessary. They will also be used to identify skills and content areas that are not being well-served by our current General Education program.
II. Senior Exit Survey
Seniors enrolled in UC 410 Ethics are asked to complete a General Education Exit Survey, which asks them about how they completed their General Education requirements, and what attitudes and opinions they have regarding the courses and the program.